Dalton Legal Issues Blog

Georgian residents like you who have suffered through dog bite attacks will be looking at a unique recovery period. Not only could the attack have left you with physical injuries and scarring, but you might need to tend to mental and emotional wounds, too. McCamy, Phillips, Tuggle & Fordham, LLP help guide survivors like you through the complex aftermath.

The physical impact of a dog bite attack can vary greatly depending on how the attack went. It hinges on the type of dog you were attacked by, how the attack happened, and other factors. Some attacks result in bite injuries that are relatively easy to tend to. Other attack wounds can take a long time to repair and may result in scarring, or even require reconstructive surgery. These issues not only impact your physical well-being, but also your mental health.

Georgia parents intending to adopt a child may feel anxiety that the process will not go the way they expect. While the child's best interest is always a guiding principle in family law, sometimes when controversy arises the courts must deliberate in order to determine what course of action serves the best interests of the child. When the child's race or ethnicity is different from that of the adoptive parents, it may spark some controversial issues that may pose obstacles to the adoption process. 

According to FindLaw, some people see mixed-race adoption as an opportunity to break down barriers that divide different ethnic groups. Indeed, it can be difficult to determine what the child's ethnicity is, as he or she may be of mixed heritage. Furthermore, there are many more minority children in need of families than there are minority parents willing to adopt them. For these reasons, the federal government favors the adoption of children by loving, capable parents regardless of race or ethnicity. Adoption agencies cannot delay or deny the placement of a child with adoptive parents on the basis of ethnicity according to the Multi-Ethnic Protection Act of 1994.

Probate is a term that frequently comes up in discussions about inheritance. Probate is the legal process through which assets are distributed to heirs from the estate. In many cases, people talk about avoiding probate. Is probate really that undesirable? The reasons you might want to avoid probate if possible is for the convenience and benefit of those who inherit your assets in the state of Georgia.

According to Nerdwallet, people fear probate because it may prolong the time it takes for their heirs to receive their assets. If you have set up a will, the probate process will be shorter than if you die with no will on record. The probate court will look at your will, validate it, and then authorize your estate to begin distributing the assets. However, if the provisions of the will are complicated, a court might take longer to authorize it.

As the weather cools down and your heating bill starts to rise, you might think about purchasing a space heater or bringing your old one out of storage. Before you plug in your little heater, our team at McCamy, Phillips, Tuggle & Fordham, LLP, wants to make sure you understand space heater safety, as well as the risks you and other Georgia residents could face with a faulty or improperly operated appliance.

According to the DIY Network, about a third of all home fires and four out of every five heating-related fire deaths in the country are caused by space heaters. Instead of throwing out your space heater, consider the following safety tips:

• Never plug a space heater into an extension cord or run the cord underneath a carpet, which can cause it to overheat.
• Place your space heater at least three feet away from curtains and furnishings that might catch fire.
• Turn the heater off when you leave the room.
• Never leave a child or pet unattended with a running space heater.
• Do not let your space heater run overnight while everyone is asleep.